Police: Man punched UC officer in face

Reginald C. Randolph, 48, of Mt. Auburn, is held on $20,000 bond at the Hamilton County Jail after allegedly hitting at University of Cincinnati Police Officer on Sunday.(Photo: The Enquirer/ Cara Owsley)Buy Photo

A University of Cincinnati police officer is recovering after a suspect allegedly assaulted him near campus Sunday.

Officer Dave Freudiger was flagged down by a person claiming have been assaulted outside the Stop'n Go at the intersection of Moerlein Avenue and West McMillan Street around 3 p.m., said UC Police Lt. Rob Gutierrez.

Freudiger spotted the suspect of the reported assault and requested for him to stop, Gutierrez said. The suspect kept walking as Freudiger followed behind on foot.

That was when the suspect allegedly stopped, turned around and walked toward the officer, he said.

"Then the suspect started swinging," Guiterrez said.

After getting the suspect to the ground, a couple of bystanders came to the officer's aid, Guiterrez said.

"He struck me in the face with a closed fist and started to fight me," the assaulted officer stated on the suspect's arrest report. "After struggling with the suspect, he finally went to the ground."

Reginald C. Randolph, 48, of Mt. Auburn, is held on $20,000 bond at the Hamilton County jail. He faces one count each of resisting arrest and assault on a police officer.

Several officers were called for assistance, but the call was canceled after the suspect was apprehended.

An ambulance responded to the scene to observe the officer and the suspect. Both appeared to have sustained minor injuries, police said.